Inspiration from my niece

I had dinner with my niece last week. She is a beautiful young lady and will be 12 in May. I had so much fun with her. I am so grateful that my middle school days are over. You couldn’t pay me enough to go through that again. I guess I forgot all about the middle school drama girls put girls through. I’m so proud of her mature response to the drama though. She stands up for herself and doesn’t cower to them.

She told me that she is in a running club and school and that she is running a 5K in May on her birthday. I was so excited when she told me she was running. Then she told me a little bit more about her club. Before practice her coach gives the girls an exercise on the “tough stuff.” You know body image, self esteem and loving your body. Then they coach the girls to get in the “girl box” and just talk about girl stuff and their feelings.After hearing this I was even more excited. What a great idea!

Then she told me they will go and run on the track. She said she always runs with her friend. She said that she loves running with her because sometimes Kari is ahead of her and cheers her on. But then at other times Shelby is ahead and cheering Kari on to just keep going, chanting “you can do it.”

Shelby told me about their last practice, and that every time they ran a lap they had to tell the coaches something that they appreciated about their body. What a great idea this is! Good for her coaches to put a program together that promotes a healthy lifetstly and encourages good self esteem. I’m so pleased that my niece is in this great program.

It got me to thinking… Our Body image issues and low self esteem start so early in life. It is frustrating that I still struggle with it as an adult! So I’m going to challenge you with an elementary thought today. What is it you appreciate about your body?

I really like my long legs. Sometimes they get in the way, and I can be pretty clumsy, but I do think they are strong and sort of toned. After all, they have to carry me for 13.1 miles.

Happy running friends!

April

I wanted to remind you that our next group run in this Saturday. We are scheduled to run 8 miles! YIKES! I hope the weather holds up for us. I was thinking of meeting at Rolland Moore Park and running on Spring Creek Trail West. It is a nice trial and a more central location. Then it’s back to my house for breakfast and mimosas. Please let me know if you can make it.

I’m still trying to coordinate a time to volunteer with One World Running. It will require that we leave Fort Collins around 7am on a Saturday or Sunday. I would like to go down on Saturday the 18th. Please let me know if anyone is interested in volunteering for this amazing cause. I would like to get a head count so she knows how many people to count on.